Recovering drug addict Brian Griffith speaks during Wednesday night's neighborhood drug watch meeting at the Butler Fire Department.

Tips from residents are helping police combat illegal drugs, a Butler police officer said Wednesday, and people should continue reporting suspicious activity.

Addressing the second meeting of the Neighborhood Drug Watch on Wednesday, Lt. Chad Rensel said tips the police department received since the last meeting in January spurred investigations.

“We need as many phone calls as you can give us. We need as many emails as you can send us,” Rensel said.

People can report suspected drug activity by calling 911 or by emailing the department at communityrelations@butlercitypd.com.

“If you see something, you say something. You have the tools to say something,” said Kathy Kline, the volunteer coordinator for the drug watch.

One tip has led to an investigation being conducted by the Butler County Drug Task Force, Rensel said.

Another tip was verified and led to identifying a person of interest providing a good start to an investigation, he said.

“I think it's been a success and I hope we keep it up,” Rensel said.

He encouraged people to call or email if they notice “short stay activity,” in which multiple people visit a house, but only stay a few minutes and leave.

A person on a street corner briefly meeting with a number of other people should also be reported, he said.

Someone who emails one day to report suspicious activity involving a vehicle and then sees the vehicle later should call 911 and tell the dispatcher where the vehicle is, he said.

People providing tips should describe the house, person or vehicle in question in as much detail as possible,

“We will contact you and get further information,” Rensel said.

Another speaker was Brian Griffith, a Butler resident who is recovering from a 17-year addiction.

Griffith, 36, said he started using drugs after an injured friend shared his pain medication with him when he was 19. He eventually started using heroin.

“I started shooting in and it got all bad,” Griffith said.

He said he missed family events because he was high or in jail and he also turned his back on friends.

“I let friends down. I stole from my friends, stole from my family,” Griffith said.

His life started turning around since he got clean 12 months and two weeks ago. He said he has a job, goes to a gym, attends addiction meetings and spends time with family.

“My life is just starting again,” he said.

The next drug watch meeting is May 30 at the Butler Fire Department.